Rockpool Children's Books

Rupert Annual 2012

2012-02-04T03:41:00.000-08:00

Lots of Bologna blog, but the Rupert annual is well underway too.

Cover done and approved, story approved and illustration on going!

Bologna 2012 - The Potty Book

2012-02-03T12:38:00.000-08:00

No long words, or boring diagrams in this fun, potty training by example book!

Bright funny pictures of potties in use

by dinosaurs, cowboys, elephants....

will encourage the very young to do just the same!

32 pages, 236mm x 236mm, softcover.

Wipeable paper (in case of accidents) and re usable stickers

to personalise your potty!

Bologna 2012 - Dribble

2012-02-03T12:05:00.000-08:00

Poor little Dribble has an unfortunate start in life,

but he has a talent that makes him a star!

But what he really wants is to be loved, have his tummy tickled,

and do doggy things!

Another fantastic picture book from Rockpool Children's Books!

32 pages, 290mm x 236mm, softcover.

Cover design might change.

Bologna 2012 - I love my books©

2012-02-02T12:39:00.000-08:00

This delightful series, I love my books©...are simple board books

aimed at very young children.

Beautiful illustrations, bright colours, fun imagination, and simple rhyme

will enchant children time and again!

160mm x 160mm, 5 spreads, board book, simple rhyming text.

Copyright © Rockpool Children's Books Ltd 2012
Illustrations Copyright © Sam Walshaw 2012

Bologna - 2012

2012-01-26T12:27:00.000-08:00

A book packed with people and animals all

going somewhere, in or on machines of all

persuasions, in this busiest of books!

Rich in content, a visual feast for the eyes,

it will have children coming back to study it's fun

detail, time after time!

Bologna - 2012

2012-01-26T12:21:00.000-08:00

Bologna - 2012

2012-01-26T12:19:00.000-08:00

Vince is not your average vampire!

In fact, at the end of the day ( and the beginning of the night ),

he's just...toooo nice!!

Fabulous new title by brilliant illustrator/author, Rosie Brooks.

A delightfully charming book!

To compliment Rosies book, Rockpool Children's Books would

like to present it's second 'scary' book!

From the prolific pen of Sam Walshaw, comes

'The Tiny Monster'...

a book of discovery and friendship found

unexpectedly!

Bologna Children's Book Fair 2012

2012-01-26T11:54:00.000-08:00

As preparations for the Bologna Children's Book Fair 2012 gather pace, we'll post books we'll be presenting at the fair. For more information on the titles,

contact Rockpool Children's Books.

The fair runs from March 19th till March 22nd.

Our address at the fair is Hall 25 B84,

once again coming under the umbrella of the UK Publishers Association.

To begin with, I'm delighted to present this new series
by Sam Walshaw, Princess Penelope.
Beautifully illustrated and written by Sam, her work goes from strength to strength.

Her books sell worldwide,

China being the latest country to appreciate her beautiful books.

Bologna 2012

2012-01-03T04:58:00.000-08:00

As a Publisher of fine children's picture and board books,

Rockpool Children's Books would be delighted to welcome you to our stand

at the Bologna Children's Book Fair 2012, 19th - 22nd March.

We can be found in Hall 8 B25, on the UK Publishers Association collective stand.

Frankfurt 2011

2011-11-08T12:05:00.000-08:00

I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Gloria Bailey of the Publishers Association,

for her wonderful and usual attentiveness as I joined their collective

stand in Frankfurt this year.

It was a good and busy fair, and we saw many good friends

and aquaintances, and many new ones.

Lots of interest in Rockpool Children's Books titles and I'm

delighted to thank Frans Maree of Fantasi, a South African publisher

for taking Sam Walshaw's Maisey and the Pirates series at the fair.

They will be published in Afrikaans.

One of my main aims was to try and interest French publishers

in our list of French titles...

...watch this space!

Rupert Annual

2011-11-08T09:54:00.000-08:00

The new Rupert Annual is now out, and features on the cover Rupert and Robo!

The annual consists of four stories, Rupert and the Little Plane and Rupert and Ozzie,
by Alfred Bestall; Rupert and the Mail Train by John Harrold,

and finally, a new story, Rupert and Robo by Stuart Trotter.

It's been quite a year for Rupert activity, starting off with myself and Martin Crowther
from the Rupert Bear Museum in Canterbury

joining Bill and Sian on the couch of BBC Breakfast.

Seemed to go down ok. There was quite a media frenzy in the early part of the year,
with several radio interviews, then in July1st was interviewed by the marvelous

Mark Radcliffe at the BBC in Manchester.

His programme Rupert Bear and me, went out in October and excellent it was too. He also interviewed Rupert fans Terence Stamp and of course Terry Jones.

In August the Followers had their yearly AGM in Warwick,

which turned out to be a very busy day signing wise for me.

The Followers are looking for new members.

The Little Football Fan

2011-08-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

- Rockpool Children’s Books are proud to present

The Little Football Fan© by first time author, Mark Williams.

We're publishing high quality picture books that

encourage football fans of a young age to read and be read to.

The Little Football Fan© series embraces the ethics

of the FA of fair play, respect and responsibility,

both in the game and as supporters.

- The books are designed to be child, and match, friendly,
and are a handy 'dads pocket' size...

32 pages, plus cover, and full colour throughout.
They are also a very robust product in that they
will be section sewn and perfect bound.
The books have excellent stories and a very strong illustration style

that we believe will appeal to it's target audience.

- Combining the phenomenal passion for football in this country,
and internationally, with encouraging the very young
to read sounds a tall order, but the books

will be nice to read, educational, portable, collectable and affordable.

- As well as The Little Football Fan© picture books,
we have developed other books 'How to play Football', 'Rules of Football',
in the series, and written and illustrated for the age group in mind.
The strong characters and branding will,
we're sure lend themselves to quality merchandise.

We shall be selling rights to The Little Football Fan©
and it's derivites at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October.

As a publisher, should you wish to make an appointment

to become part of this phenomenon, or discuss it in any way, please contact me:

stuart@rockpoolchildrensbooks.com

Moms With Apps

2011-04-04T06:05:00.000-07:00

Had a great meeting with Lorraine Ackemann from Moms With Apps after

her talk at the TOC Conference in Bologna.

Moms With Apps is a collaborative group of family-friendly developers

seeking to promote quality apps for kids and families.

I showed her our new Rockpool App, and she liked it very much.

Lorraine was very interested to know why we'd done this and what our aims were.

I explained that the new Rockpool App means that strong storytelling

and quality illustration can now be enjoyed with an added dimension

as they come to life with vision, sound and interactivity.

Children love to explore the pages with their fingers and thumbs

as the stories are narrated to them.

http://momswithapps.com/

The Rockpool App

2011-04-04T01:06:00.000-07:00

Rockpool Children´s Books has launched its own branded App at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. Available from the iTunes App Store, Rockpool, a leading publishers of Children´s Picture Books with an International reputation, is making selected children´s book titles available for download.

Stuart Trotter – Director of Rockpool, and Illustrator, also known for illustrating the Rupert Bear annual, and appearing on the BBC for Rupert´s 90th anniversary, continues to produce Children´s Picture Books to an amazing standard. Rockpool Children's Books nurtures new and established talent and uses high production values to create inspiring, inventive, well designed, children's books that can be enjoyed by all ages.

2011 Bologna Children's Book Fair

2011-04-03T13:29:00.000-07:00

Last week Rockpool Children's Books attended its
sixth Bologna Children´s Book Fair.

We had an excellent fair, and as usual, welcomed potential customers/clients
from all over the world. We didn’t exhibit in our conventional way,
but joined the UK Publishers Association Collective stand.

With the support of Gloria Bailey and Helen Brown, from the PA,
it was an enjoyable experience,

and we may be back next year, if all is well. A big thank you to them.

Also I’d like to thank Mark from GBH for delivering our books

safe and sound to Bologna for the sixth year running.

This year has seen a major development in Rockpool Children’s Books

as it’s Rockpool App became available on iTunes three days before the fair.

Created by App developers Fingers’n’Thumbs in collaboration with

Rockpool Children’s Books,

the App is unique as it’s a Rockpool App Bookshop

containing 10 enhanced e-book readers from our back list

and one fabulous brand new title from Sam Walshaw, Neandersmall.

I attended the Tools of Change conference in Bologna

which addressed the digital world of Apps, e-books, tablets, Apple and Android.

The conference was very interesting with light being shed
on this very new and fluid side of the industry.

Whilst at the fair, information passed back and forth to the Fingers’n’Thumbs team
in the UK, only to be told, as the conference came to a close,

that our Rockpool App had gone to number one

in Apples App Store ‘New and Noteworthy’!

Needless to say, interest in Rockpool’s App from publishers
at the fair has been extremely strong.

Follow up meetings will take place at the London Book Fair 11^th – 12^th April.

We still have a few slots available, but going fast,

so if you’re interested in us developing you high quality,

cost effective App, contact us quick.

Board Books

2011-02-07T08:49:00.000-08:00

Versatile and eager to adapt to suit a variety of publishers needs, we are

delighted to present the big chunky touchy feely flap books, we presented

in Frankfurt, now also in the derivative format of 4 separate titles, 216mm x 216mm.

We're building a co-edition print run and should you require more information

please contact us!

Bologna 2011 28th - 31st March 2011

2011-02-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

IMC Literary Agency

2011-01-22T10:02:00.000-08:00

Rockpool Children's Books are delighted to announce

they are now represented in Spain by

the excellent IMC Literary Agency.

E-mail: info@iemece.com
Av. de Sarrià, 21, entlo.5ª 08029 Barcelona.

Tel. (+34) 933 638 757 Fax: (+34) 933 638 758

Susan Larkin

2011-01-17T14:42:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago,

we received an envelope containing several stories from the pen

of Susan Larkin, resident of Pennsylvania, or there abouts.

Her stories were delightful in their charming simplicity,

and it's thanks to Vicki and her eye for a good text

that we decided to mock them up for Bologna 2009.

I roughed out the first book, 'Good Morning Baby', had it printed and bound at YPS,

and presented it to potential customers at the fair.

So thrilled was Susan by our enthusiasm for her book,

she flew to Bologna, from Pennsylvania to join us on the stand!

Rockpool Children's Books were entertaining that night, and so she joined

Aby, Ron van de Meer, Rod Campbell, David Teale, Duncan Beale,

and myself for dinner...and had a wonderful time!

Despite Susan's long trip, great night out,

and jet lag, the book didn't sell at the fair, despite the accolades and interest shown.

This allowed us to develop a second book by Susan, 'How do I love you?',

and I'm delighted to announce that we have now sold the pair

into the American market...although the eagle eyed will notice

that in the process the titles have changed!

The format is 10 spread padded hard cover board books,

but is also available in 32 page soft / hardcover picture book format.

We are building a co - edition run,

so if any publisher out there is interested,

please contact us for details and prices!

Co-Editions, new for 2011!

2011-01-17T13:23:00.000-08:00

New titles for 2011, from Rockpool Children's Books.

We have a co-production planned for the very near future.
Please let us know at your earliest convenience if you

wish to receive more information/prices.

Tilly 1997 - 2010

2011-01-17T13:13:00.000-08:00

Last week, Wednesday 12th, our beloved Tilly,

and companion for thirteen years, died.

She will be very sadly missed, and has left a huge hole in our lives.

As is the way of these things, she

has gone, but she is everywhere...her bowl, her lead, her bed, her cats,

her ball, her nose prints on the glass door.

We'll miss her, but remember her fondly for our holidays in Padstow,

our walks to the pub, our games of football on the lawn,

and cuddles in front of the tele!

Rest in peace Tilly, we loved you so much, you'll never be forgotten!

2010-11-11T13:06:00.000-08:00

Great news! nb ILLUSTRATION have taken on Sam Walshaw!

Sam submitted some illustrations and stories
to Rockpool Children’s Books about three years ago.
There was something unique about her style, and her story telling was excellent.
I took her books to Frankfurt and then Bologna,
lots of interest but no sales.
Then after one of our book idea brainstorming sessions,
she did Lulubell Ladybird, and then Little Fairies landed on my desk!
All three books published in the UK, Australia and France, six Fairies in Thailand,
and interest from all over the world.
Spring 2011 Rockpool Children’s Books will be publishing Sam's
astonishingly colourful
'Minnie the Minnow'
and 'Minnie the Minnow and Jasper the Jumping Jellyfish'.
The second 'Minnie' book written with her wonderfully
talented daughter, Maisey...a future star in the making!

Rockpool Children’s Books

look forward to working with Sam for many years to come,
but meanwhile we'd like to wish her every success
with the excellent nb ILLUSTRATION!

Visit Sam

1.7 Million Viewers!

2010-11-11T12:11:00.000-08:00

...watched BBC Breakfast time on Monday morning when Martin and I joined Sian and Bill on the famous red couch! I think it went ok. I haven't seen a recording, and can't quite remember what I said it was all a bit of a blur!
Didn't manage to get Rockpool Children’s Books into the conversation,

but you can have a look by clicking onto the link!

Walked past James Blunt on my way out...he was on his way in.

Didn't speak....but then I was in a hurry!

Sarah from MiComms, the PR company, and Nicola from

Classic Media were excellent and certainly calmed my nerves.

I brought loads of stuff, but they seemed happy with my two first annuals...

from an era when everything was black and white.

The auction of the Steiff Rupert Bear on Ebay,
for the charity Muscular Dystrophy, is doing well,
and it was up to about £5,500 last time I looked.

I hope they like my picture they get as a bonus with the bear!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170562976372

Canterbury

2010-11-08T15:06:00.000-08:00

Stayed at the Abode Hotel, Canterbury. Good hotel, good price

and it owns a good pub a couple of doors away.

Had dinner with Nick and Charlie from the Express Book Shop...just finishing

when the place turned into a club! I'd have stayed but...

Next morning, full English, then off to the museum

for a day of signing annuals, being interviewed by ITV Meridian,

and more signing. Bit quiet, but made more bearable by Nick and Charlie

being the other side of some beams.

Signed the annual of the grand daughter of Glen Baxter!

Said I was a fan...hope the bloke believed me cos I am.

Great museum, nice Rupert area, but also houses Bagpuss

and other stuff by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin.

Worth a visit.

Rockpool Children’s Books

Media Interest in Rupert!

2010-11-04T14:37:00.001-07:00

Had a call from Simon Edge of the Daily Express yesterday
who did a telephone interview...so today I was in the paper.
Lot of media interest in Rupert, and why not.
He's a publishing phenomena...in 10 years time he'll be getting his letter from the Queen!
The photo in the attached article isn't me, I have to add,
but Alfred Bestall, the master...in fact maybe even a Jedi.
If anyone is interested in illustration
then I do recommend that you check out Mr. Bestall's work pre-Rupert,
his draughtsmanship is superb...

so no pressure there then!

No Stuart Ruperts here, but the big one is Alfred; the one on the right

Mary Tourtel and the one on the left is Young Rupert.

My thoughts on Young Rupert are these...

I know he has courted controversy but the animation is superb

and if he manages to grab the interest of young children

I have no doubt they will grow up

to enjoy, buy, and collect the classic Rupert!

BBC Breakfast Time - 8th November

2010-11-03T10:06:00.000-07:00

8th November, Ruperts birthday, and I shall be
appearing on the BBC's Breakfast time!

I won't be alone, I'll be accompanying Martin Crowther

from Canterbury's Rupert Museum.

Rupert Bear - 90 Years old!

2010-10-28T12:07:00.000-07:00

Created in 1920, by Mary Tourtel,

Rupert Bear will 90 years old on the 8th November.

There are several things going on to celebrate his birthday

and I'll update the blog when these are finalised.

What definitely will be happening is that I shall be

at the Museum of Canterbury, that houses the Rupert Bear Museum,

on Saturday 6th, signing this years annual.

The annual is a special one with stories by

Mary Tourtel, Alfred Bestall, John Harrold, and me!

I wrote and illustrated the cover and 'Rupert and the Snowbird'.

There'll be other activities on at the museum,

but more information I would contact them direct.

Work is already underway for the 2011 Rupert Annual! 'Woo hoo!'

Catalogue

2010-10-25T02:23:00.000-07:00

Should you wish to view Rockpool Children’s Books catalogue,

it's now available as a PDF.

Just click on the picture of the catalogue on the right.

Visit our website

ZNN Agency

2010-10-20T11:37:00.000-07:00

Following meetings in Bologna and Frankfurt

with Nurgul Senefe, I am pleased to announce

that Rockpool Children's Books are now

represented in Turkey by

znn Agency are based in Istanbul,

and we look forward to working with Nurgul

as she promotes our titles.

Visit znn

Amazing Flap books - 2011

2010-10-19T07:08:00.000-07:00

These two titles were very well received in Frankfurt,

and it's not surprising! They pack quite a punch being

padded hard cover board books, with gatefold flaps,

touchy feely bit's, and bold stunning art!

Rockpool Children's Books produce high quality

picture books, and so it is that those high production

values will extend into our board books, or

any other format we deviate into!

Visit my website

Sam Walshaw's 'Toby Trouble' - Autumn 2011

2010-10-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

'Watch out, Toby Trouble's about!'

More delightful illustration and stories from Sam Walshaw

in this series of four board books for tiny hands.

Simple stories, bright artwork and flaps,

embellish these wonderful books.

A new series from Rockpool Children’s Books

available autumn 2011, as individual books

or bundled in a handsome slipcase!

Visit Sam

Gigglebox Books

2010-10-18T04:48:00.000-07:00

Having met Currie Gossett in Bologna, earlier this year,

I was impressed by Currie's enthusiasm for her product,

which focuses on connecting families

that are separated by distance or time.

In a world where young families find themselves

working and living in places far from their close relatives,

the internet is a great tool for keeping in touch, such as Skype, Facebook,

and other social networking sites.

But what Gigglebox Books offers is a way of reading a book of your choice, that

can then be heard online, by a family member far away.

Rockpool Children’s Books has chosen for Gigglebox Books is

'The Princess who couldn't sleep.'

I wish Currie and Gigglebox Books well and look forward to

seeing our book on her site!

Visit my website

Frankfurt Book Fair 2010

2010-10-14T14:20:00.000-07:00

Rockpool Children’s Books didn't exhibit this year, at the Frankfurt Book Fair...instead I wandered it's huge cavernous halls...meeting people here, companies there, but always busy. I do like this fair, it always seems well organised, and what never ceases to amaze me is the state of the place the night before the fair, and then next morning it's transformed, everything neat and tidy, carpets down...then that ominous bell as the fair is declared open! I've only been a publisher since October 2006, but it's amazing how many people you get to know from all over the world in that short time. I did miss having a stand, but hopefully, I'll be back next year.

Four of our new titles, printing for spring 2011, and presented in Frankfurt.

After a busy day of meetings,

Wednesday night saw dinner in the Hauptwache.

Steak, Bratkartoffeln and beer...great

place, unpretentious suprisingly quiet for a fair night.

There was a publishers party upstairs.

Company was David Adnett, Watermark International,

production advisor for Rockpool Children's Books over

the last five years, and Ron van de Meer, paper

engineer extraordinary and joke encyclopaedia!

Then it was a gentle stroll down to O'Reilly's near the

Station. Good to see Rupert from Meadowside in there,
who told me about Simon! Oh dear!
Wishing you all the best, Simon, hope you're on the mend...
see you in Bologna!

Thursday was another busy day!

This summer we joined Bounce,
and it was good to see Robert Snuggs, as always, at the fair,
and good to see our titles displayed on his stand.
His enthusiasm is infectious, and we had a very nice
dinner with him and Danielle and Kate,
followed by a drink in an amazing wine bar,
the location of which I'm sworn to secrecy.

Friday morning early start. I'd registered for
the Chinese children's book publisher's breakfast,
which proved to be very interesting.
357 million are under 18; 16 million children born every year!
Picture books, I'm delighted to say, are a growing
sector of the market. publisher's names given plus
e-mail addresses. Very useful.
Meeting with David Bennett, always good value
and he's a wealth of knowledge...his books looking as good as ever!
Finally, at the end of the day, it was a glass of bubbly
at the Treehouse stand to wish Hilary well, as this was her
last Frankfurt! It won't be the same without her!

'The Funny Little Moon Man - Simon Partington - Autumn 2011

Visit my Web Site

Thailand

2010-10-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

At the Bologna Children's Book Fair, in March 2010,

Bookpoint from Bangkok, bought the rights

for Sam Walshaws Little Fairies series.

The covers are in and look fab!

Visit Sam

Stuart Trotter Illustration

2010-10-13T14:14:00.000-07:00

As well as being Publisher and Creative Director for Rockpool Children's Books,
I am, and have been for many years, an illustrator.

Mainly illustrating for children's books, I've also drawn stuff for Ad agencies, design groups and editorial. Busy, busy busy, with Rockpool Children's Books,

but I'm still available as an illustrator...

http://www.rockpoolchildrensbooks.com/index.php?profile3

in fact I illustrate the Rupert Annual for Egmont,

the 2011 one underway at the moment.

Our books

2010-10-13T11:44:00.000-07:00

Rockpool Children’s Books published its first four titles
in October 2006. Since then, its international reputation
for high quality picture and board books has grown steadily.

To date we have published 22 titles and moved into animation with two of them!
Now that Rockpool Children's Books is established, it is publishing
talented new author/illustrators, and sees it’s future in
producing books richly diverse in both stories and illustration.

Rockpool Children's Books

nurtures new and established
talent and uses high production values to
create inventive, inspiring, well-designed
children’s books that can be enjoyed by all ages.

The Rockpool Children's Book Blog!

2010-10-13T06:09:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Rockpool Children's Books Blog!

My name is Stuart Trotter,

I'm Publisher and Creative Director at

Rockpool Children's Books, and will in due course,

fill this blog with interesting stuff relating to

Rockpool Children's Book publishing!

I'll try and make it informative and fun!